Comments on: how does google know?

By: gmzlblidoq

gmzlblidoq — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:36:09 +0000

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By: Hugh

Hugh — Wed, 23 May 2007 09:56:01 +0000

patrick: this is exactly what i’m trying to figure out: given that:
a) i am not logged into any google aps
b) i have my accounts set to “don’t snoop on my searches”, and
c) i have no toolbars installed …

how is it that google still “knows” what results i’m more likely to “want” to see first? karl suggests that it has to do with IP location sniffing, and maybe preferences (tho i have not set any location preference). Could there be cookies – from when I *am* logged into google, that give google info about me? or something?

it still doesn’t make sense to me, unless google *is* somehow tracking browser activity, but maybe that’s paranoia (which doesn’t meant they aren’t out to get me).

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 23 May 2007 03:31:47 +0000

I’ve also had personal search turned off for a while.

hugh: how would Google be following my browser activity for stuff I don’t get to through their searches?? I don’t have any toolbars installed.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Tue, 22 May 2007 21:54:41 +0000

boris, yes, i think that’s likely.

By: karl

karl — Tue, 22 May 2007 17:20:24 +0000

notice also that you do not hit the same server in both cases. I think if you really want to test. Google redirects your request on IP location. For example on the first screenshot, it knows you are in Canada and that you might research pages in Canada. It’s why you get the options.
On the second screenshot there is no such things.
I guess on the first one you have set the preferences near the search button. It modifies the results too.

By: karl

karl — Tue, 22 May 2007 17:15:23 +0000

I wonder if the personal tracking opt-out is an option only for people who are logged in. Which would be quite quite ironical.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Tue, 22 May 2007 17:12:20 +0000

patrick says: “However, I don’t think I’m getting results related to “what I want” because, knowing what the links are already I don’t click them anyway so Google doesn’t “know” which are appropriate.”
HM: unless google is actually tracking where you spend your browser time, eg lots at i.never.nu … since, gee, it is odd that “patrick” gets you a good ranking on your search, and “montreal rugby” gives me westmount as #1.

@julien: personal search is off, but i am still getting “personalized” results. why? the data centre argument seems like I should get more random results but I don’t …

By: Boris

Boris — Tue, 22 May 2007 17:12:03 +0000

feed the machine! feed the machine!

On a totally geek tip, the processing power G has is truly mind numbing. My god, it’s full of CPUs.

Can it be perhaps that man’s sole purpose for existing is to wire up the planet, with interconnected sensors, building Earth’s nervous system as it evolves over millennia? Are we not just part of the DNA code of this organism so much larger than us? Can it be that Googl ethen is just a first simple and dumb relay mechanism for all the data that is starting to come “online”. And, will we finish the job before we finish oursleves?

Carry on.

By: julien

julien — Tue, 22 May 2007 16:49:41 +0000

also, google has several datacenters, which give slightly different results.

as for personal searches, i turned mine off a while ago… i don’t wanna go back. :)

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 22 May 2007 15:24:19 +0000

I don’t welcome the overlords.

As you just commented on my similar post, results vary for mine too. However, I don’t think I’m getting results related to “what I want” because, knowing what the links are already I don’t click them anyway so Google doesn’t “know” which are appropriate. In this case the varying servers might be a better explanation. Although it is weird that I’m getting the best results…